Flushable Moist Wipe Toilet Roll Core Dispenser

ABSTRACT

A flushable wipe dispenser is insertable into a standard toilet paper roll and holder. The assembled toilet paper roll and device are positioned onto a standard toilet roll holder, allowing for convenient and space-saving access to flushable wipes. The dispenser allows the user to easily draw-out a moist wipe from a convenient location at the center of the toilet roll tube. The convenient location better enables easy usage of the toilet paper and moist wipes by the consumer and with a less visibly obtrusive moist wipe container.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a Non-Provisional U.S. patent application claiming priority toU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/875,928, filed Sep. 10, 2013,to Ryan Bricker, which is incorporated herein in its entirety byreference for all purposes.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present disclosure is in the technical field of personal hygieneproducts, and more particularly, relates to a dispenser for flushable,moist-wipes for use with a roll of toilet paper.

BACKGROUND

A robust consumer market exists for personal hygiene products and, inparticular, personal wipes for use in a water closet or bathroom near anexisting toilet roll holder. Existing personal hygiene products offervarious shaped box-like containers and dispensers that are typicallystand-alone. Some of these existing products have ways to attach to wallor other surfaces or to hang above or below an existing toilet rollholder or stand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The present disclosures are described by reference to drawings showingone or more examples of how the disclosures can be made and used. Inthese drawing, reference characters are used throughout the severalviews to indicate like or corresponding parts. In the description whichfollows, like or corresponding parts are marked throughout thespecification and drawing with the same reference numerals,respectively. The drawing does not purport to be to scale andproportions of certain parts have been exaggerated to better illustratedetails and features.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the dispenser accordingto an aspect of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective, exploded view of an embodiment of the dispenseraccording to an aspect of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the dispenser accordingto an aspect of the disclosure positioned for assembly into a toiletroll.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the dispenser accordingto an aspect of the disclosure assembled in a toilet roll and positionedin a toilet roll holder.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the dispenser accordingto an aspect of the disclosure having an adapter for use with asingle-sided toilet roll holder.

FIG. 6 is an orthogonal view an exemplary embodiment according to anaspect of the disclosure having a biased end cap.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION

For a more complete understanding of the features and advantages of thepresent invention, reference is now made to the detailed description ofthe invention along with the accompanying figures in which correspondingnumerals in the different figures refer to corresponding parts.

The disclosure herein presents an exemplary device that contains anddispenses a plurality of flushable, moist personal wipes and which isdesigned for insertion into a standard toilet paper tube. The dispenserdevice is sized to allow a user to insert the device into the hollowinterior of a standard toilet paper tube. The assembled tube and deviceare positioned onto a standard toilet roll holder, existing or newlyadded. This allows for convenient and space-saving access to flushablewipes integrated into the toilet roll. The dispenser device allows theuser to easily draw-out a moist wipe from the convenient location of thecenter of the toilet roll tube. The convenient location better enableseasy usage of the toilet paper and moist wipes by the consumer and witha less visibly obtrusive moist wipe container.

The FIGS. 1-7 will be discussed together to save repetition even wherethe particular embodiments differ. Reference characters are usedthroughout the several views to indicate like or corresponding parts.

A dispenser device 1 has a dispenser housing 10 is generally tubular,having a tubular body 30 defining an interior space 32 and havingopposing back and front ends, 34 and 36, respectively. In use, thedispenser housing is inserted by hand into a standard toilet paper tube40. The body 30 is shown as cylindrical, although other shapes can beemployed, such as hexagonal, octagonal, or other polygonal forms, or canhave short, outward radial extensions. Such shapes or extensions canenhance the ability to easily insert the device into the toilet papertube while still providing some stabilizing friction between the housingand tube.

In one embodiment, back and front end caps form the back and front endsof the device housing. The back end cap 12 can be removably attached tothe back end 34 of the body 30, such as by friction fit, cooperatingthreads, adhesive, or the like. Similarly, a front end cap 16 forms thefront end 36 of the housing 10, opposite the back end 32. The front endcap 16 can be removably attached to the body 30, such as by frictionfit, cooperating threads, adhesive or the like.

Each end cap, in the shown embodiment, has a sleeve portion 19 having aninner diameter equal to or slightly less than the outer diameter of thebody 30 such that the end cap and body are attachable by a friction fit.Alternately, one or both of the front and back ends can be permanentlyattached or integral to (i.e., formed of-a-piece) the body 30. The fitof one or both end caps can be water-tight in an embodiment to maintainthe moistness of the wipes. Further, the front end cap 16 can include are-sealable flap or cover 58 (FIGS. 6 and 7), openable to allow accessto wipes and closable to maintain the moisture within the body 30.

In one embodiment of the disclosure, the front and/or back ends furtherinclude flanges 17 sized to abut the toilet paper tube 40. In such acase, a removable or flangeless end is provided to allow insertion ofthe body 30 into the tube 40.

The back and front ends of the housing further include back and frontholder connectors 13 and 14 respectively. In the shown embodiment, theholder connectors 13 and 14 are integral to their respective end caps 12and 16. Alternately, the holder connectors can be removably attached tothe end caps.

The connectors 13 and 14 are generally male connectors, extendingaxially from the device ends. The connectors are designed to and docooperate with the opposing female recesses defined in standard toiletroll holders such that the device (and toilet roll) when positioned inthe holder is suspended by the holder recesses. The connectors shown aregenerally annular although other shapes and configurations can be used,such as button-shaped, substantially cylindrical, solid or hollow, etc.At least one of the holder connectors 13 and 14, in one embodiment, willbe flexible to allow proper insertion of the connectors intocorresponding female recesses on a standard toilet roll holder 24. Sucha flexible connector can be made of plastic, rubber, or other materialcapable of elastic deformation under pressures and forces typicallynecessary to position the device in a holder.

Alternately, one or both of the connectors can be spring-loaded orotherwise movable between a position allowing movement of the deviceconnectors into alignment with the holder recesses and an extendedposition wherein the connectors engage with the holder recesses, as seenin FIGS. 6 and 7. Similarly, the connectors can comprise semi-flexibletabs or pivoted extensions which fold to allow positioning in alignmentwith the holder recesses and automatically return to an extendedposition once aligned with the recesses.

The front end cap 16 further includes a perforation or opening 18 foraccessing the flushable wipes positioned in the device. In oneembodiment, the opening 18 comprises cross-hair slits through the frontend cap 16. Alternate embodiments include a single slit through the endcap, a plurality of intersecting slits through the end cap, a generallycircular opening through the end cap, and other equivalents known in theart. As used here, the phrase “through the end cap” means that, in use,the wipes can be pulled through the opening. It is specifically intendedthat such openings can initially be sealed, initially only partiallyextend through the end cap, comprise perforations, etc., as is known inthe art.

A plurality of flushable wipes 20 are positioned or positionable withinthe interior 32 defined by the device body 30. The plurality of wipes 20can comprise a roll 42 of perforated wipes, as shown. Alternately, theplurality of wipes can comprise a series of inter-folded wipes or otherarrangement as is known in the art.

The opening 18 preferably works to allow removal of a single wipe 20using one hand and hold the subsequent wipe in position extendingpartially through the opening. Again, such arrangements are known in theart and are sometimes referred to as pop-up wipes. In one embodiment,the wipe dispenser and the plurality of flushable moist wipes 20 areseparate products; that is, the dispenser 10 is refillable withadditional rolls or stacks of moist wipes. In such an embodiment, accessto the interior 32 of the device for inserting additional wipes can begained by removing the front end cap 16.

The toilet paper roll 22 is a separate product from the disclosed deviceand is shown for reference. The standard toilet paper holder 24 is aseparate product from the disclosed device and is shown for reference.

In an embodiment for use with single-sided toilet paper holders, anadapter 44 is provided. Arms 26 extend radially from the housing 10 anddefine apertures 46 for insertion of a toilet paper holder arm 48 of anon-standard toilet paper roll holder 28. The arms 26 can be attachableat one end to the end caps of the housing, such as at connectors 13 and14 as shown, or can be integral to the device housing or caps. Such armsallow use of the device with a cantilevered or pivoted holder arm 48.The adapter 44 hangs vertically to create clearance for the toilet paperroll 22 beneath the holder arm 48.

In use, the front end cap is removed. The dispenser body is slid into astandard toilet roll tube. A first moist wipe is partially pulledthrough the front end cap opening. The front end cap is connected to thedispenser body. The dispenser with the toilet paper roll attached isthen inserted into the toilet paper holder with the dispenser connectorscooperating with corresponding holder recesses. A wipe is pulled fromthe dispenser and a second wipe is partially pulled through and held bythe end cap opening. To refill the dispenser, the assembled roll anddispenser are removed from the toilet paper holder. The front end cap isremoved. The dispenser body is optionally removed from the toilet paperroll tube. A new set of wipes are positioned in the interior space ofthe dispenser body. The process is repeated as needed. In use, if thetoilet paper roll is exhausted prior to the moist wipes, the dispenseris removed from the toilet paper roll tube and positioned in anothersuch tube.

The product is made of common manufacturing material or materials, suchas plastic, rubber, aluminum, etc., and can be manufactured by any knownprocess, such as molding, cast molding, spinning, injection molding,machining, etc.

In an alternate embodiment, one or both of the end caps can be attachedor removably attachable to a flexible bag containing a plurality ofmoist wipes. The bag is of a flexible material, such as a flexibleplastic, preferably water proof to seal in moistness. The flexible bagcan be permanently attached at one end (or both ends) to a substantiallystiffer plug. The plug can be sized to cooperate with either a toiletpaper roll tube directly or with an end cap as described elsewhereherein. The plug includes an opening for dispensing the wipes which canbe initially sealed, perforated, partially perforated, slotted, etc. Inuse, a bag of wipes is inserted into either the roll tube directly or isattached, such as by friction fit, to an end cap having a correspondingopening therethrough.

In the embodiment shown, the connectors 13 and 14 serve to define theaxis of rotation of the device and of the assembled device and toiletpaper roll. The axis is off-set from the usual axis of the toilet paperroll alone. Such a non-centered axis of rotation should insure that theassembled roll and device always return to a position with thewipe-dispensing opening at bottom dead-center for ease and consistencyof user access. In an alternative embodiment, the axis of rotationdefined by the connectors 13 and 14 (when the device is assembled withthe toilet paper roll) is coaxial with the toilet paper roll axis.

FIG. 6 is an orthogonal view an exemplary embodiment according to anaspect of the disclosure having a spring-loaded end cap. FIG. 7 is anexploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 6. An end cap, here the back endcap 12, can be spring-loaded with a biasing mechanism 50 such as aspring. The biasing mechanism 50 seats against an interior surface, suchas the end wall, defined by the end cap 12 and against a similarinterior surface, such as a shoulder or the like, defined by the body30. The back end cap 12 includes a sleeve 52 having an inner diameterequal to or slightly greater than the outer diameter of the body 30. Themovable end cap can be moved axially in relation to the body to acompressed position, shown by the dotted lines of FIG. 6, allowingpositioning of the device in a toilet paper roll holder. The end capreverts to an initial, axially extended position, seen in solid lines inFIG. 6, unless met with resistance. It is possible to have both end capsaxially movable or spring-loaded.

A flushable wipes dispenser device is presented for use with a standardtoilet paper roll holder, the device comprising: a housing having agenerally tubular body, a front end cap, and a back end cap; the bodydefining an interior cavity for containing flushable wipes, and the bodyhaving an outer diameter sized to fit into a standard toilet paper rolltube; the back end cap attached to the generally tubular body, enclosingthe back end of the generally tubular body; the front end cap removablyattached to the generally tubular body, and enclosing the front end ofthe generally tubular body; the front end cap having an opening throughwhich wipes can be removed from the interior cavity; two connectorsattached to the housing and sized to cooperate with the standard toiletpaper roll holder, the connectors extending axially from the housing andsupporting the device from the holder. The device can additionallycomprise one or more of the following features: wherein the housingcontacts the interior surface of the toilet paper roll tube and iscylindrical, polygonal, or has radial projections from its exteriorsurface; wherein at least one of the connectors is axially movable inrelation to the tubular body; wherein the at least one connector isaxially movable by elastic deformation, by pivoting movement, or byaxial movement; wherein the two connectors comprise a first and secondconnector, and wherein the first connector is attached to and extendsaxially from the front end cap, and wherein the second connector isattached to and extends axially from the back end cap; wherein the backend cap is removably attached to the tubular body, permanently attachedto the tubular body, or is integral to the tubular body; wherein atleast one of the back end cap and front end cap further comprises aradial flange having a diameter greater than the inner diameter of thetoilet paper roll tube for abutting the tube when the tubular body isinserted therein; wherein at least the front end cap is removablyattachable to the tubular body by friction fit or threaded connection;wherein the connectors define an axis of rotation of the device, andwherein the axis of rotation is unaligned with the axis of the toiletpaper roll tube; wherein the front end cap opening allows for removal ofa first wipe from the device by pulling, while retaining a second wipepartially extending through the opening; wherein the front end capfurther comprises a movable cover for selectively sealing the opening;further comprising a plurality of flushable wipes positioned in theinterior cavity of the tubular body, the plurality of wipes arranged ina roll, each wipe separable from an adjacent wipe by perforations, orarranged in an inter-folded stack, with both sides of a folded portionof each wipe abutting an adjacent wipe; wherein the back end cap ismovably mounted to the tubular body, having a biasing mechanism biasingthe back end cap to move axially away from the tubular body, and axiallymovable toward the tubular body upon application of an axial force;and/or wherein the front end cap is movably mounted to the tubular body,having a biasing mechanism biasing the back end cap to move axially awayfrom the tubular body, and axially movable toward the tubular body uponapplication of an axial force.

Various methods are disclosed herein and are not limited to theparticular order of steps of actions mentioned or listed. The variousmethods include methods having additional steps, eliminating steps,repeating steps, and performing the listed steps in any order. The stepsare not listed in every conceivable combination in order to saverepetition and space. Possible methods are described here using claimterminology and are numbered for ease of reference and not to limit themethod steps, exclude steps, or to indicate order of steps. 1. A methodof using a flushable wipe dispenser in connection with a toilet paperroll tube, the method comprising: positioning a generally tubularhousing inside the toilet paper roll tube; creating a toilet paper rolland dispenser assembly by attaching a front end cap to the front end ofthe tubular body, the end cap enclosing the front end of the tubularbody; and pulling a flushable wipe from an opening defined through thefront end cap after creating the assembly. 16. The method of claim 15,further comprising removing toilet paper from the toilet paper rollaround the tube. 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising removingthe front end cap from the tubular body, re-filling the tubular bodywith flushable wipes, replacing the front end cap onto the tubular body,and placing the toilet paper roll and dispenser assembly onto a toiletpaper roll holder. 18. The method of claim 15, further comprisingattaching a back end cap to the tubular body. 19. The method of claim15, further comprising inserting the tubular body into the toilet paperroll tube until a radial flange of the back end cap abuts the toiletpaper roll tube. 20. The method of claim 15, further comprising moving acover movably mounted to the front end cap to uncover the openingtherethrough, removing a wipe from the tubular body, and moving thecover to cover the opening.

The words or terms used herein have their plain, ordinary meaning in thefield of this disclosure, except to the extent explicitly and clearlydefined in this disclosure or unless the specific context otherwiserequires a different meaning.

The words “comprising,” “containing,” “including,” “having,” and allgrammatical variations thereof are intended to have an open,non-limiting meaning. For example, a composition comprising a componentdoes not exclude it from having additional components, an apparatuscomprising a part does not exclude it from having additional parts, anda method having a step does not exclude it having additional steps. Theindefinite articles “a” or “an” mean one or more than one of thecomponent, part, or step that the article introduces. The terms “and,”“or,” and “and/or” shall be read in the least restrictive sensepossible.

While the foregoing written description of the disclosure enables one ofordinary skill to make and use the embodiments discussed, those ofordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence ofvariations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiments,methods, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not belimited by the above described embodiments, methods, and examples. Whilethis disclosure has been described with reference to illustrativeembodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in alimiting sense. Various modifications and combinations of theillustrative embodiments as well as other embodiments of the inventionwill be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to thedescription. It is, therefore, intended that the appended claimsencompass any such modifications or embodiments.

The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as thepresent disclosure may be modified and practiced in different butequivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having thebenefit of the teachings herein. It is, therefore, evident that theparticular illustrative embodiments disclosed above may be altered ormodified and all such variations are considered within the scope of thepresent disclosure. The various elements or steps according to thedisclosed elements or steps can be combined advantageously or practicedtogether in various combinations or sub-combinations of elements orsequences of steps to increase the efficiency and benefits that can beobtained from the disclosure.

It will be appreciated that one or more of the above embodiments may becombined with one or more of the other embodiments, unless explicitlystated otherwise. The disclosure illustratively disclosed hereinsuitably may be practiced in the absence of any element or step that isnot specifically disclosed or claimed. Furthermore, no limitations areintended to the details of construction, composition, design, or stepsherein shown, other than as described in the claims.

It is claimed:
 1. A flushable wipes dispenser device for use with astandard toilet paper roll holder, the device comprising: a housinghaving a generally tubular body, a front end cap, and a back end cap;the body defining an interior cavity for containing flushable wipes, andthe body having an outer diameter sized to fit into a standard toiletpaper roll tube; the back end cap attached to the generally tubularbody, enclosing the back end of the generally tubular body; the frontend cap removably attached to the generally tubular body, and enclosingthe front end of the generally tubular body; the front end cap having anopening through which wipes can be removed from the interior cavity; twoconnectors attached to the housing and sized to cooperate with thestandard toilet paper roll holder, the connectors extending axially fromthe housing and supporting the device from the holder.
 2. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the housing contacts the interior surface of the toiletpaper roll tube and is cylindrical, polygonal, or has radial projectionsfrom its exterior surface.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein at leastone of the connectors is axially movable in relation to the tubularbody.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the at least one connector isaxially movable by elastic deformation, by pivoting movement, or byaxial movement.
 5. The device of claim 3, wherein the two connectorscomprise a first and second connector, and wherein the first connectoris attached to and extends axially from the front end cap, and whereinthe second connector is attached to and extends axially from the backend cap.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the back end cap is removablyattached to the tubular body, permanently attached to the tubular body,or is integral to the tubular body.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein atleast one of the back end cap and front end cap further comprises aradial flange having a diameter greater than the inner diameter of thetoilet paper roll tube for abutting the tube when the tubular body isinserted therein.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein at least the frontend cap is removably attachable to the tubular body by friction fit orthreaded connection.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein the connectorsdefine an axis of rotation of the device, and wherein the axis ofrotation is unaligned with the axis of the toilet paper roll tube. 10.The device of claim 1, wherein the front end cap opening allows forremoval of a first wipe from the device by pulling, while retaining asecond wipe partially extending through the opening.
 11. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the front end cap further comprises a movable cover forselectively sealing the opening.
 12. The device of claim 1, furthercomprising a plurality of flushable wipes positioned in the interiorcavity of the tubular body, the plurality of wipes arranged in a roll,each wipe separable from an adjacent wipe by perforations, or arrangedin a inter-folded stack, with both sides of a folded portion of eachwipe abutting an adjacent wipe.
 13. The device of claim 1, wherein theback end cap is movably mounted to the tubular body, having a biasingmechanism biasing the back end cap to move axially away from the tubularbody, and axially movable toward the tubular body upon application of anaxial force.
 14. The device of claim 13, wherein the front end cap ismovably mounted to the tubular body, having a biasing mechanism biasingthe back end cap to move axially away from the tubular body, and axiallymovable toward the tubular body upon application of an axial force. 15.A method of using a flushable wipe dispenser in connection with a toiletpaper roll tube, the method comprising: Positioning a generally tubularhousing inside the toilet paper roll tube; Creating a toilet paper rolland dispenser assembly by attaching a front end cap to the front end ofthe tubular body, the end cap enclosing the front end of the tubularbody; and Pulling a flushable wipe from an opening defined through thefront end cap after creating the assembly.
 16. The method of claim 15,further comprising removing toilet paper from the toilet paper rollaround the tube.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising removingthe front end cap from the tubular body, re-filling the tubular bodywith flushable wipes, replacing the front end cap onto the tubular body,and placing the toilet paper roll and dispenser assembly onto a toiletpaper roll holder.
 18. The method of claim 15, further comprisingattaching a back end cap to the tubular body.
 19. The method of claim15, further comprising inserting the tubular body into the toilet paperroll tube until a radial flange of the back end cap abuts the toiletpaper roll tube.
 20. The method of claim 15, further comprising moving acover movably mounted to the front end cap to uncover the openingtherethrough, removing a wipe from the tubular body, and moving thecover to cover the opening.